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By Language

This memorandum includes questions and answers for state agencies and local program operators on flexibilities available under the Child Nutrition Programs during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

FNS waives food service management company contracts duration requirements for all state agencies, school food authorities, and Summer Food Service Program sponsors. Contracts that may expire by or around June 30, 2020 may be extended through school year 2020-2021.

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support schools unable to complete a triennial assessment of the local school wellness policies by June 30, 2020, due to school closures as a result of COVID–19. This waiver applies to state agencies that have local educational agencies administering the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

FNS is granting a nationwide waiver of the 60-day reporting requirements to help minimize potential exposure to the novel coronavirus. This waiver applies to the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program, the Child and Adult Food Care Program and the Summer Food Service Program.

FNS is extending a nationwide waiver to support access to nutritious meals while minimizing potential exposure to the novel coronavirus (COVID–19). This extension of Nationwide Waiver to Allow Meal Pattern Flexibility in the Child Nutrition Programs, issued March 25, 2020, applies to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program (the child nutrition programs). This waiver remains in effect until June 30, 2020.

This waiver delays the transition from National School Lunch Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) operations during unanticipated school closures associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to traditional SSO and SFSP operations through June 30, 2020.

Under Families First Coronavirus Response Act, FNS is allowing states during unanticipated school closures to waive the requirement in the summer feeding programs that “open site” meal service is limited to areas with at least half of the children in the area are in low-income households.

This memorandum is providing reporting instructions for the remarks section of the FNS-10, FNS-44, and FNS-418. This collection will capture information on COVID related operations in response to the requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and instructs state agencies to report the number of sites operating during the COVID-19 pandemic by applicable child nutrition program.

FNS has used its authority under FFRCA to waive certain onsite monitoring requirements for the school meals programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program, so that programs can to maintain program integrity and support social distancing while providing meals.

FNS is establishing a nationwide waiver to support the Community Eligibility Provision while schools are responding to the novel coronavirus. The deadlines affected by this waiver include the CEP election, notification and reporting deadlines.